Hermann Ebbinghaus Quotes

I can barely remember what I wrote yesterday, let alone 10 years ago.

In our endeavors to recall to memory something long forgotten, we often find ourselves upon the very verge of remembrance, without being able, in the end, to remember.

What happens is that your wretched memory remembers the words and forgets what's behind them.

You never realize what a good memory you have until you try to forget something.

Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person?

You don't just forget things overnight.

The stream of thought flows on; but most of its segments fall into the bottomless abyss of oblivion. Of some, no memory survives the instant of their passage. Of others, it is confined to a few moments, hours or days. Others, again, leave vestiges which are indestructible, and by means of which they may be recalled as long as life endures.

To the best of my recollection, I must recall on my memory, I cannot remember

It alarms me to think of all that I have read and how little of it has stayed with me.

Memory is a net: one that finds it full of fish when he takes it from the brook, but a dozen miles of water have run through it without sticking.

Short term memory is not good.

We have all forgot more than we remember.

People can remember their childhood, but events from four or five years ago are in a never-never land.

I don’t remember.

How is it that we remember the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not remember how often we have recounted it to the same person?

Why is it that I can remember so easily the lyrics to the opening theme song of 'Gilligan's Island?' Why do I remember these trivial things, and I can't remember the names of important collaborators?

Remind a man of what he remembers, and you will make him forget it.

I think you remember everything ... you just can't bring it to mind all the time.

For someone who can’t remember very much, there seems to be a lot I can’t forget.

People are machines of forgetfulness

You try and remember, but it never works.

Remembering is the most overrated thing. Forgetting is far superior.

But the thing about remembering is that you don't forget.

Right. I'd forgotten about her.' He shook his head. 'That keeps happening.

Holes in the memory. You grab on to some things, others have completely disappeared.